San Antonio Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle Accident Statistics for San Antonio, TX

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 521 motorcyclists were killed on Texas roadways in 2021, and an additional 2,319 were seriously injured. TxDOT has an annual campaign to increase driver awareness to reduce motorcycle accidents. Their “Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles” campaign runs throughout the summer and fall as these are the deadliest months for motorcyclists on Texas roadways. TxDOT said, “The six-month period from May through October is the deadliest for motorcycle riders and accounted for 61 percent of motorcycle fatalities in Texas last year,”

According to David Strickland, the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Sixteen percent of all vehicle fatalities in Texas involve motorcyclists”. This is just one of many insights from a recent study from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. Also noted in the article is that motorcyclists are 25 more times more likely than passengers in cars to be killed in an accident. Even more reason for Texas to improve our motorcyclist awareness.

San Antonio Motorcycle Accident Statistics

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) tracks motorcycle crashes throughout Texas using crash report data from the San Antonio Police Department and other law enforcement groups. In 2021, TxDOT reported 475 motorcycle crashes in San Antonio consisting of:

• Fatal Motorcycle Crashes:  21 fatal crashes, with the most common contributing factors to the accidents being speeding (33.3% of motorcycle wrecks), drinking and driving (13.3% of motorcycle collisions), driver inattention (10% of motorcycle crashes), and failure to drive in a single lane (10% of motorcycle crashes).
• Serious Injury Motorcycle Crashes:  69 serious injury crashes, with the most common contributing factors to the accidents being driver inattention (20.3% of motorcycle wrecks), speeding (20.3% of motorcycle wrecks), failure to yield right of way turning left (13% of motorcycle collisions), and unsafe speed (13% of motorcycle crashes).
• Minor Injury Motorcycle Crashes:  80 minor crashes, with the most common contributing factors to the accidents being speeding (26.6% of motorcycle wrecks), failing to yield right of way when turning left (12.8% of motorcycle crashes), failing to drive in a single lane (11.7% of motorcycle wrecks).
• Possible Injury Motorcycle Crashes:  225 possible injury crashes, with the most common contributing factors to the accidents being driver inattention (27.2% of motorcycle wrecks), speeding (14.6% of motorcycle wrecks), faulty evasive action (14.1% of motorcycle crashes), and changed lane when unsafe (10.8% of motorcycle crashes).
• Non-Injury Motorcycle Crashes:  86 non-injury crashes.

Texas Motorcycle Accident Statistics

In Texas in 2021, there were a total of 8,847 motorcycle wrecks in 2021 involving 8,261 motorcycle drivers and 586 motorcycle passengers, which consisted of:

• Fatal Motorcycle Crashes:  521 crashes fatally injuring 501 drivers and 20 passengers
• Serious Injury Motorcycle Crashes:  2,319 crashes serious injuring 2,152 drivers and 167 passengers
• Minor Injury Motorcycle Crashes:  3,013 crashes minorly injuring 2,816 drivers and 197 passengers
• Possible Injury Motorcycle Crashes:  1,520 crashes possibly injuring 1,407 drivers and 113 passengers
• Non-Injury Motorcycle Crashes:  1,226 crashes involving 1,146 drivers and 80 passengers that sustained no injuries
• Unknown Severity Motorcycle Crashes:  248 crashes of unknown severity involving 239 drivers and 9 passengers

If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle wreck in San Antonio, call our San Antonio motorcycle crash lawyers for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Source: TxDOT – Motorcyclist Fatalities and Injuries by Age Group and Helmet Use.

Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in San Antonio, TX

The top 7 most common causes of motorcycle accidents in San Antonio in 2021 accounted for almost 90% of all motorcycle crashes, and included:

1. Driver Inattention:  120 motorcycle wrecks were caused by inattentive drivers (29.3% of motorcycle wrecks)
2. Speeding:  73 motorcycle wrecks were caused by excessive speed (17.2% of motorcycle wrecks)
3. Faulty evasive action:  47 motorcycle wrecks were caused by faulty evasive action (10.9% of motorcycle wrecks)
4. Changing lanes when unsafe:  39 motorcycle wrecks were caused by unsafe lane changes (9.3% of motorcycle wrecks)
5. Unsafe speed:  36 motorcycle wrecks were caused by unsafe speed in light of weather or road conditions (8.6% of motorcycle wrecks)
6. Tailgating:  33 motorcycle wrecks were caused by following too closely (7.9% of motorcycle wrecks)
7. Failure to yield right of way when turning left:  28 motorcycle wrecks were the result of unsafe left turns (6.5% of motorcycle wrecks)

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, call a San Antonio motorcycle accident attorney at Thompson Law for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Safety Tips for Motorcyclists and Drivers

Follow these safety tips to prevent vehicle/motorcycle crashes:

• Use Caution While Making Left Turns: It’s an easy mistake to misjudge the distance of an approaching motorcycle, that’s why it is always safest to let the motorcycle pass to avoid turning in front of the rider.
• Give Motorcyclists Room When Passing Them: While passing motorcyclists it is imperative to move over to the passing lane. Do not crowd the motorcyclist’s full lane.
• Exercise Extra Caution at Intersections: Almost one-third of motorcycle fatalities happen at roadway intersections. Many of these accidents are highly avoidable if drivers are paying close attention to their surroundings.
• Pay Full Attention While Driving: Momentary distractions can cause catastrophic results on roadways. Always pay full attention and try to reduce distractions such as checking your phone or adjusting the radio.
• Look Twice Before Changing Lanes: Check mirrors, check blind spots and always use turn signals.
• Stay Back: Always maintain a safe distance while following motorcyclists. When a motorcyclist downshifts instead of applying the brake to slow down, it can catch drivers off guard since there are no brake lights to signal that they are reducing their speed.
• Slow Down: This one is pretty self-explanatory. Follow the speed limit!

If you’re hurt in a motorcycle accident despite following these safety tips, call a San Antonio motorcycle accident attorney at Thompson Law for a FREE CONSULTATION.

What to Do After A Motorcycle Accident?

Following a motorcycle accident, it can be easy to be flustered and shaken but you should remember one simple rule: do not overtly apologize or accept blame for the accident. Insurance companies can use this against you to reduce your claim!

While this is important to keep in the back of your mind, you should focus on seeking medical attention first and foremost. Even if you feel okay directly after your crash, it is important to do a full physical examination. This can help you to avoid future problems, as some problems may take time to show up, and can be found early if you are seen by a medical professional.

So, what else should I do after my accident? Here are some simple guidelines:

• Get contact information for any witnesses to the accident
• Never accept blame, even if you think you may share some blame
• Get the police involved to file a San Antonio accident report
• Take photos of the accident scene and surrounding area, including vehicle locations and any debris
• Take photos of the property damage to your motorcycle and other vehicle(s)
• Call the San Antonio motorcycle accident lawyers at Thompson Law

Call Our San Antonio Motorcycle Accident Lawyers For a FREE CASE REVIEW

Call Our San Antonio Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today

First and foremost, Thompson Law is a family run, and family-oriented firm! We treat our clients like part of our family. Our San Antonio motorcycle accident lawyers know how to take on the insurance companies and get you the settlement you deserve.

So, why choose Thompson Law?

• Experience: Insurance companies track which attorneys are willing to take a case to verdict at trial. They then offer better pre-litigation settlements to clients of those law firms. Ryan Thompson has been ranked in the Top 100 National Trial Lawyers and is a Lifetime Member of the Multi Million Dollar Advocates forum.
• Results: Thompson Law won 15 of the top 50 settlements in Texas in 2021, according to TopVerdict – more than any other personal injury law firm in the state of Texas.
• Accessibility: Our San Antonio motorcycle accident lawyers offer free consultations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week no matter where you live in San Antonio. Call today, as there is no fee unless we win.

No Upfront Cost Representation by Our San Antonio Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

If you are asking yourself “When is the best time to contact a personal injury lawyer after a motorcycle accident,” the answer is NOW! Thompson Law offers FREE CASE REVIEWS, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Further, we charge NO FEE unless we win.

You will not incur any attorney fees, court costs, legal expenses, or any other costs unless we recover money on your behalf. If our San Antonio motorcycle accident lawyers do obtain a settlement for you, our fee will only come out of a portion of the settlement.

The statute of limitations in Texas is 2 years in most injury accidents. If you have been injured in an accident, call us today or submit a form for a NO COST, NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION with a San Antonio motorcycle accident lawyer at Thompson Law.

Take action to protect your right to a full value monetary recovery with a San Antonio motorcycle accident lawyer at Thompson Law. The sooner you know your options, the faster you’ll be on the path to recovery.